South-Carolina
What this weekend’s series against South Carolina means for Auburn baseball
With expectations now higher than any other point during the 2025 season, Auburn baseball’s final home series could have major postseason implications.
The Tigers are set to play South Carolina, a team underperforming under legendary, but first-year head coach Paul Mainieri. The Gamecocks are second to last in the Southeastern Conference, currently sitting 5-19 in SEC play. Their two most recent losses came by a combined score of 31-3 against Florida.
South Carolina ranks 62nd in the RPI, making it a Quad IV series for Auburn, since the games are at home. That means losses would likely hurt the Tigers more than wins would help them.
Auburn comes into the series off the back of an impressive series win at Tennessee. The Tigers beat the Vols in games one and three, winning both games by five or more runs.
“We competed like we won all three, if I can keep them away from the result,” head coach Butch Thompson said after the series in a release. “What we’ve been through, it just seems like every challenge that can come our way, we’ve had it and have always just said ‘good’. If we just continue to keep our head down, we can gain something from two really well played games.”
With Auburn hovering right around the cut off line for a national seed in most projections, sweeping South Carolina — or at least winning the series — is important to keep its spot.
Auburn currently ranks fourth in the RPI, a metric powered in part by the Tigers’ No. 2 strength of schedule ranking. If Auburn takes care of business versus South Carolina, next weekend’s series against Ole Miss would all but solidify a national seed for the Tigers, if they don’t already do so this weekend.
It’s also an important series for seeding in the SEC Tournament, which is now just two weeks away. The top four seeds in the tournament get a double bye, something that’s more important than ever with the tournament shifting to a single-elimination format.
Auburn is two games out of the No. 4 spot at the moment, and a series with a relatively weak South Carolina team could be the best chance left to make up some ground on LSU and Georgia.
The importance of the SEC Tournament may be minimal in terms of NCAA Tournament placement, especially for a team in Auburn’s position. It’s hard to quantify the importance of having your name on that trophy, though, and a double bye puts that goal further within reach.
Auburn vs. South Carolina series info
Records
Auburn: 33-15 (13-11 SEC)
South Carolina: 26-23 (5-19 SEC)
Times/TV channels
Game 1: Thursday, 6 p.m., ESPN2
Game 2: Friday, 6 p.m., SEC Network+
Game 3: Saturday, 2:30 p.m., SEC Network
Starting pitchers
Game 1
Auburn: Cam Tilly (RHP) 2-1, 4.78 ERA, 32.0 IP, 20 BB, 41 SO
South Carolina: Brandon Stone (RHP) 2-5, 5.09 ERA, 53.0 IP, 11 BB, 39 SO
Game 2
Auburn: Sam Dutton (RHP) 6-2, 2.37 ERA, 68.1 IP, 13 BB, 81 SO
South Carolina: Jake McCoy (LHP) 4-4, 6.18 ERA, 51.0 IP, 31 BB, 69 SO
Game 3
Auburn: Christian Chatterton (RHP) 4-1, 3.69 ERA, 46.1 IP, 17 BB, 53 SO
South Carolina: TBD
Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at prauterkus@al.com
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 3, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
18-21-40-53-60, Powerball: 23, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
Midday: 1-8-9, FB: 9
Evening: 0-5-1, FB: 0
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
Midday: 2-5-1-7, FB: 9
Evening: 3-9-5-0, FB: 0
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
Midday: 12
Evening: 07
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
02-06-23-25-33
Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
28-40-52-53-54, Powerball: 12
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:
For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.
Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.
SC Education Lottery
P.O. Box 11039
Columbia, SC 29211-1039
For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.
Columbia Claims Center
1303 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.
For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.
When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 28, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 28 drawing
Evening: 8-4-9, FB: 2
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 28 drawing
Evening: 5-6-2-0, FB: 2
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 28 drawing
Evening: 07
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 28 drawing
03-10-14-21-34
Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:
For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.
Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.
SC Education Lottery
P.O. Box 11039
Columbia, SC 29211-1039
For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.
Columbia Claims Center
1303 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.
For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.
When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.
EDGEFIELD COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — A South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) officer was involved in a shooting early Sunday morning in Edgefield County.
SCDNR said their officer was shot at repeatedly but sustained no injuries.
Preliminary reports indicate a possible silver or light blue four-door sedan was the subject vehicle involved in the shooting, according to SCDNR.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating.
Anyone with information in this incident is asked to call (866)472-8477.
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